Sorrowful but Willing

Mt. 26:38 -39

"Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus was in deep agony this night because He knew the great suffering that was to come. Grieving in soul and spirit, He asked three disciples to watch and pray with Him. But they did not! While they were sleeping, He cried out to the Father to be spared this great suffering, If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. What revealing words! Just because He knew it was God's will did not eliminate the suffering. The pain was so bad that He bared His heart and soul to His Father. He asked to be freed of this burden, but at the same time, was willing to obey.
 
A second time, He went to pray. Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done. Once again Jesus' first concern was for the will of the Father not for His own comfort. Once again His three disciples were sleeping. So suffering alone, He went and prayed a third time saying the same words. Three times Jesus, the Son of God, cried out about the pain  and agony of doing the Father's will, but each time, He was always ready to obey. For Jesus and for His believers, God's will often includes suffering, agony, and sorrow. After coming back the third time, he woke His disciples and said that the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
 
He had come to the Father expressing His heart's desire, but at the same time had accepted the Father's will at the greatest cost possible, the cost of His life. Was He resting in the plan of a sovereign God? Did He think that God's plan was for His good? How was it for good? Certainly, it was for the believer's good since through His death we are reconciled to the Father. It was for His good as well because He became the Savior, the first of many brethren, the One who will come in glory to claim His own. The point is that resting in the sovereign plan of God, even though it brings good, is not easy or pain free. The Father wants His children to cry out to Him expressing their pain and their helplessness, but he also wants them to obediently do the will of the Father. Since I follow Jesus walking in His footsteps, my steps will include suffering. Resting in and accepting the Father's sovereign plan, even though it be painful, will always be for my good. Jesus modeled this great truth enduring the greatest pain ever. He was the sinless, perfect Son of God who willingly and obediently took on Himself the sins of the world enduring separation from His Father. He accepted the Father's will at the cost of His own life.
 
Father,
Thank You for Your plan that brought me to You. Help me to follow obediently in Jesus' footsteps. Keep me ever crying out to You in the pain and suffering but always willing to obediently follow.
In Jesus name,
Amen